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Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were found guilty of ethics code breaches surrounding a £1.3m ($2m) "disloyal payment" made to the Frenchman in 2011.

Both claimed the payment was honouring an agreement made in 1998 for work carried out between 1998 and 2002 when Platini worked as a technical adviser for Blatter.

The payment was not part of Platini's written contract but the pair insisted it was a verbal agreement, which is legal under Swiss law.

German judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, the chairman of Fifa's adjudicatory chamber, held disciplinary hearings for the pair last week.

Charges included conflict of interest, false accounting and non co-operation, with investigators submitting a file of more than 50 pages.

BBC Sport's Richard Conway in Zurich...

Wicket down at the cricket, where England are responding to South Africa Invitational XI's first-innings 136.

Professor Mark Pieth - anti-corruption expert, and former chairman of Fifa's Independent Governance Committee, has told BBC Radio 5 live's Breakfast programme that he feels 'comforted' that reforms are working. 

"To take out the president of the organisation of this size and the most hopeful candidate is a big step".

Pieth suggested that both men will appeal, with Platini's appeal more urgent, due to the fact he still hopes to run for Fifa president in February.  

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Just to recap today's big news then for those just joining us... Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Uefa boss Michel Platini have been suspended for eight years from all football-related activities following an ethics investigation.

The bans come into force immediately.

At 79, Blatter's suspension effectively ends his long career as a football administrator. Fifa boss since 1998, the Swiss had already announced his intention to stand down before February's presidential election.

Platini, 60, was tipped as a future leader of football's world governing body and had hoped to succeed Blatter.

A three-time European Footballer of the Year and former captain of France, he had been in charge of Uefa - European football's governing body - since 2007.

We are expecting to hear from Sepp Blatter in the next couple of hours.

He is due to give a press conference at 10:00 GMT.

In light of what's happened, that should be interesting to say the least. We will, of course, bring it you as it happens.

BBC Sport editor Dan Roan on Twitter...

The Fifa statement announcing the outcome of its investigation added: "The proceedings against Mr Michel Platini primarily related to a payment of CHF 2,000,000 (£1.34m) that he received in February 2011 from Fifa.

"The payment to Mr Platini had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999.

"Mr Platini’s assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber.

In addition to his ban, Platini has been fined CHF 80,000 (£53,944).

As well as an eight-year ban, Sepp Blatter has been fined CHF 50,000 (£33,712).

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Fifa has confirmed that both Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been banned from all football-related activities for eight years with immediate effect. 

In a statement, Fifa confirmed that "The proceedings against Mr Blatter primarily related to a payment of CHF 2,000,000 (£1.34m) transferred in February 2011 from FIFA to Mr Platini. 

"Mr Blatter, in his position as President of FIFA, authorised the payment to Mr Platini which had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999. 

"Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment. His assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber."

More to follow.... 

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World heavyweight champion boxer Tyson Fury was the subject of a protest outside the event - and was jeered by a section of the crowd in Belfast's SSE Arena after recent remarks about women and homosexuality.

When interviewed during the show, he apologised if his comments had "hurt people" ... though he didn't actually apologise for what he said.

Still, the crowd seemed to accept the apology, the boxer applauded by those at the Arena.

Fury finished fourth overall in the voting, with more than 72,000 votes - 7,000 behind Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Latest fromEngland'swarm-up game against a South African Invitational XI. The weather looks just like it is here...

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Andy Murray was presented the award by Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan, in front of a sell-out 7,500 crowd at the SSE Arena in Belfast.

As well as his Davis Cup heroics, the two-time Grand Slam winner also reached the final of the Australian Open and the semi-finals of both Wimbledon and the French Open in 2015.

"Thank you very much. I didn't expect this," Murray said.

"I dedicate my life to this sport and I work extremely hard every day to make you proud."

He seemed a popular winner with the crowd inside the venue and was a runaway winner in the vote.

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Take a bow Mr Andy Murray.

""A friend sent me a message the other day with an article saying: 'Andy Murray is duller than a weekend in Worthing,' which I thought was a bit harsh .. on Worthing."

Maybe so, but it didn't stop the Brit walking away with his second BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in three years.

The 2013 winner inspired Great Britain's tennis team to a first Davis Cup victory for 79 years and won 361,446 of the 1,009,498 votes cast (35%).

Rugby League star Kevin Sinfield was runner-up (28%), with heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill third (8%).

What would be the biggest footballing story this Christmas? Jose Mourinho to take over at Manchester United perhaps?

Well, according to today's happens it could happen.

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United made contact with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho about replacing Van Gaal, even before Saturday's defeat to Norwich, according to The Sun., external

While the Daily Mail, external says Mourinho would "jump at the chance" to manage at Old Trafford.

More on that later...

A few things to look out for today.

England's cricketers continue their preparations for the opening Test against South Africa on Boxing Day.

They have just started day two of their three-day warm-up game against a South Africa Invitation XI. We'll keep you informed of their progress.

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At 09:00 GMT a big, big moment when Fifa's Ethics committee delivers its decision on Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter. That should be interesting.

And at 20:00 the big Premier League game of the day - Arsenal v Man City at the Emirates. We'll have all the build-up.

Should be a decent day. Enjoy.